Chapter 9
Chapter
Nine
NISSA
Light spills out into the hall. I can’t make out what was just said so I creep closer. The deep timber I hear is undeniably Cillian’s voice. I would recognize it anywhere. But I freeze when an airy feminine voice responds to whatever it is he said.
The female sounds familiar but I can’t place her until I peer through the crack in the door.
My eyes find Cillian first, seated behind a massive glass desk filled with water, little fish following the path of his hand just below the crystal top.
He snares my gaze, unable to pull it away, until I hear her voice again.
“What a hard day it has been for all of us. Praise to the Goddess that you reached out. What comfort can I offer you tonight?” I find the high priestess through the thin slit and my upper lip pulls back in disgust at her seductive words.
She is almost unrecognizable from the female I saw at my sister’s memorial.
Her attire and accessories represent each of the four elements, but the dress barely covers her important parts, rising even high in her seated position.
Her thick pouty lips are painted a vibrant red and curl into a sultry smile directed straight at the prince.
I hate how my stomach twisted as I searched his face for a response. Jealousy blooming like a poisonous flower behind my ribs. I have no claim to Cillian, he is in every right to take up this female on her offer of comfort.
“I asked you here on official business, priestess.” He responds. I lose a breath when my magic suddenly swirls to life in delight at his apparent disinterest in the seductress. I pull back quickly when his eyes jump to the door.
Shit, did he hear me? I wait, refusing to breathe again until I know I am undetected.
“Oh, how disappointing.” Halyca responds, and I can hear the faux pout of innocence in her voice without even looking at her.
When Cillian doesn’t respond immediately, I start to move back towards Nova’s study to avoid getting caught outside of his door.
“Nova’s death obviously upset the Goddess.” Cillian’s words flow down the hallway clearly and I pause my steps.
I move back to my previous spot but resist looking into the room.
“The Daughter of Gaia, being killed before becoming queen… does it surprise you that she would be upset?” She’s deflecting.
I saw her face when the final rite didn’t go as planned. Even she was shocked.
“I need to speak with her.” I hear him walking around the room now, his voice closer to the door.
Halcya releases an unflattering snort. “Nova is dead, returned to the elements. I’m not sure what you think I can do about that.”
“Not Nova, Gaia.” He states, his words filled with annoyance.
“You have to go through me to communicate with the Goddess, Prince.” Her words are sharp but still drip with sex. “I’m happy to ask her anything you want and report back. Maybe in your private quarters next time?”
My blood, or maybe it’s my magic, simmers at her implication. Hasn’t he made it clear that he isn’t interested in her? You would think a High Priestess would have a little more decorum. She is no better than the parasite princesses. And the overly sexy act is overplayed.
I hate to admit that I still know Cillian, understand him on some level. But at this moment, I know he is done with her antics. His words come out firm, “We agree the Goddess was upset. Ask if the storms are connected. See if the humans were involved.”
“And why are you inquiring about this instead of your parents? Or better yet, the future king? You are the spare.” It sounds like she finally got the message because her words come back sharp. Belittling.
He doesn’t take her bait, “They’re all busy with the coronation. I don’t want to burden them with anything more.”
“And you only wish to help?” Her voice is skeptical. “How generous.”
Why is he looking into this and not his father or brother?
I don’t know what the Vaylors have done in the past to stop the storms. But one thing is clear, the storms are still destroying the magic and the synthetic options the Vaylors have brought in are not working as they promised.
Are they benefiting from the synthetic options in some way?
Why else would it not be a higher priority- the only priority- to stop the storms? Restore the full fae powers.
“To be honest, Halcya, I don’t care what you believe as long as you get me answers. Soon, priestess,” he snaps. I hear her clear her throat but doesn’t respond to him.
The magic that I’ve been holding back builds stronger as I wait for her response. It reaches out, pushing me towards the door. I am about to acquiesce and try to get a glimpse into the room when the door swings open in one fluid movement.
In a blink of an eye, a hand lands on the wall next to my head, the other holding the open door open at my side, effectively boxing me in.
My eyes go wide and I press myself tight against the wall, as the scent of fresh spring water fills my lungs.
“Can I help you?” he asks through his teeth.
Still clinging to Nova’s journal at my chest, I drop my shoulder and lift my face to him in defiance, “Nope, I’m good. You are free to return to your mistress- sorry I mean priestess.” I give him a cunning smile, even as I internally condemn myself for letting my envy show.
He cocks his head to the side, eyes roaming across my face and taking in my words.
“She’s gone.” is the only answer I get.
“Why are you looking into the storms instead of Caspien? I don’t buy that you don’t want to bother them,” I whisper, having a hard time catching my breath with him so close. My magic charged with us this close, making it hard to breathe.
His body goes rigid at my question, his eyes dropping to my painted lips. I swallow with his intense eyes on me, my blood rushing to my ears.
“Caspien doesn’t always do what he should, or take care of those under his protection.”
My brows knit together at his words, helping me ignore my mind and magic pushing me towards him. “Like Nova? Are you saying Caspien should have protected her?” I hesitate, trying to decide how much to share, before adding, “I know he was cheating on her.”
I expect him to be shocked but instead a sarcastic smirk appears on his lips. I suppose Caspien’s dalliances aren’t much of a secret. Maybe their agreement was common knowledge.
My eyes drop to his lips. He dips his head towards me slightly and for a moment I forget what we’re talking about.
Until he clears his throat. “Nova’s death does nothing to benefit Caspien. In fact, it makes his life a lot more difficult. He doesn’t like to be inconvenienced.” His mouth is close enough to feel his words on my lips.
The wind catches in my chest, until his words register. Am I the inconvenience? I blink a few times clearing my mind, shaking away the hurt, “So, what were all the questions about? Why are you looking into Nova’s death?”
“You mean when you were listening in on my private conversation?” When I just smirks back at him, his smile grows wider.
He chuckles. “I’ve missed you.” he says teasingly. My heart beat flutters and the smirk drops from my face.
“You don’t even know me anymore,” I challenge.
“We may not be close, but I do know you. You haven’t changed. Always snarky but with the best intentions. You care about others, and while you want to fade into the background, away from all this insanity, you still stand out in the middle of it.”
I shift under his assessment, my cheeks turning pink beneath the ridiculous makeup they cake on me each morning.
“And I know…” His words are slow, cautious, as his hand reaches towards my face. “I know that all this makeup isn’t you.” His thumb presses into my lower lip, nudging it open. “You don’t like it, and you don’t need it.”
My heart and my magic flare to life at his touch, an earthquake to my very being. I swallow before I begrudgingly push his hand away. “You’re right about one thing. I think they overdid the makeup. But thanks for the compliment.”
I move to push his hand off the wall, done with this bizarre conversation.
“And I know you didn’t want this life, so I’m sorry you’re here.” My eyes flash with surprise and I slowly look back into his eyes, a regretful expression staring back at me.
I blink a few times, and ask, “Why are you looking into Nova’s death, Cillian?”
He doesn’t hesitate with his answer, “I’m trying to figure out why Gaia is attacking the elemental lands, and now the kingdom.
Our magic is being destroyed, and no one seems to care enough to ask why.
The pathetic attempt at a synthetic option is failing.
Castara won’t be strong enough if we’re attacked.
And since that’s apparently now a possibility, someone has to do something to fix this. Nova’s death could be related.”
I tilt my head, taking in his words, “And you’re going to be the one to figure it out?”
His jaw ticks. “I may not be the future king, but I’m still a Vaylor. We’re the chosen family to protect the Fae. Even if Nova’s death isn’t connected to the storms, we owe it to her to find out what happened.”
“You want this life, don’t you?” I say. “Nova was like you. I wasn’t made for this. Not like her.” I pause. “Or you.”
“Except I wasn’t.” he reminds me, lifting a single eyebrow. “You’ll make a great queen, Nissa. If that’s what you want.”
I look at the floor, unsure what to say.
I don’t want this but I won’t tell him my plans.
I can’t trust him. But anger grows in my gut at the Goddess who is just playing games with our lives.
No one is in the position they want to be, except maybe Caspien.
How could this all be so messed up? How could there truly be a plan?
Nova shouldn’t be dead, Cillian should be able to help the kingdom as he sees fit, without being questioned as the spare. Hell he should have been considered for King.
And I… I should not be thinking about how much I want to lean forward and press my overdone lips to this male in front of me. The one that abandoned me years ago. The one that even if I wanted, I couldn’t have.
I look back up at him, “It doesn’t matter what I want. Gaia doesn’t care, as long as we follow this ridiculous cycle of royalty. It doesn’t matter that you would have been a perfect king and that I would rather disappear than have to take this role. We have no say.”
Pain fills his face. And if I didn’t know better, I would believe that I could physically feel his despair.
“And for the record, I missed you too.”
Shock washes across his features. He takes a step back from me and I instantly regret the words.